Board demolition project under way

Old maternity home comes down

DOWN SHE GOES: Demolition of some DHB buildings at Palmerston North Hospital have begun.

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Demolition of the red brick board office at Palmerston North Hospital is well under way, with contractors and heavy machinery ripping into the roof.

The project, which began earlier this month after seismic concerns, will see the single-storey block removed, rooms altered in the adjoining two-storey block, a new entrance established and the relocation of the former social club hall for a meeting room.

The red brick board office in Heretaunga St was opened in 1926 and for the next 30 years the building was used as the Palmerston North District Maternity Home.

It later became a nurses' home, then an office block - first for the hospital board, then used for the area health board, and recently for MidCentral District Health Board.

It is expected the board office demolition project will be completed in June.

Contractors have also begun strengthening works on the Hospital Administration building, with internal walls being rebuilt. Strengthening of the foundations is nearly complete.

Structural engineers are still determining remedial work to be done on the CSB building.

Required strengthening works needed in the kitchen block and NZ Blood services are being investigated. The laundry block does not need further action.